Alexia (Cypriot singer)
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| Alexia Αλέξια |
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 "Alexia (Cypriot)" - Photo from Alexia's album
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alexia Vassiliou |
| Born | February 5, 1964 |
| Origin | Greece |
| Genre(s) | Jazz, pop, experimental, alternative |
| Instrument(s) | Voice |
| Years active | 1981-present |
| Website | http://www.alexiamusic.com |
Alexia Vassiliou (born February 5, 1964), better known as Alexia, is a Cypriot singer who represented Cyprus twice in the Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest, first with the musical band Island, and then by herself. Alexia is one of the most talented, versatile and renowned singers in Greece, with a series of gold and platinum records, including one in Scandinavia, and a Top-100 hit in the U.S.A., while she was still a student at Berklee College of Music, in Boston. Her first album "Alexia", was an overnight success, starting a wave in singing Greek pop music.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Famagusta, on the east coast of Cyprus, Vassiliou and her family left their hometown as refugees, after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, when the Turks captured her town along with the 37% of the Cypriot land.
[edit] Education
Vassiliou received her Bachelor's degree in Performance from Berklee College of Music (Boston) in 1985.
During her studies, Vassiliou was chosen by CBS to sing in the album "I am Siam". This song played for 6 months on radio in New York and Boston, and it reached Billboard's Top-100. Vassiliou is the first ever Cypriot artist to have a top 100 hit. The album was produced by David Sonenberg (former Manager and Producer of Meat Loaf).
[edit] Career
She participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, twice. Once when she was in High school in 1981, second time in 1987. Both times, the songs became hits. And the second time around, the song "Aspro mavro" became platinum in all of the Scandianavian countries.
She studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, in the US.
During her studies she was a member of the Gospel Choir at Berklee. She had the opportunity to meet and be taught by some of the best teachersand musicians in the world.
While she was sophomore, she was chosen by CBS New Yorkto record the theme song for the album "I am Siam". Composed by Brian Rothschild and Stafan Vienna, and produced by David Sonenberg. "I am Siam" reached the Billboard's Top 100.
In 1985 Alexia was chosen as the only vocalist to take part in Chick Corea's concerts at the Berklee Performance Center. She sang the yet unreleased musical 15-minute piece composed by Chick Corea: "Hello Brazil". They have remained friends since then.
She moved in NYC for a couple of years and became part of 4 different Jazz and fusion music groups. Axiom was one of them. They played around Manhattan. She has collaborated with famous artist like Fredy Jackson and Roberta Flack.
In 1987 Alexia returned in Cyprus, to represent her country in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time and that was the beginning of her career in Greece.
Her first album became double platinum in Greece and Cyprus. She recoede over 20 albums, most of which became gold and platinum. She collaborated with great composers, lyricists, artists, musicians worldwide to name a few: Mikis Theodorakis, Chick Corea, Andreas Vollenweider, Milva, Kostas Kapnisis, Kostas Haritodiplomenos, Antony Donchev, Kostas Kakoyiannis, Aristides Mytaras, Peter Massink, Kostas Tournas, John Patitucci, Gary Novak, Giorgos Hadjinasios, Mimis Plessas...
1993 - She released “The Classics”. It's an album with amazing versions of all time classic songs in Greece from 30-70 decades. The album had huge success and is a “legend” in the Greek music-history! "The Classics" was recorded with the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra and includes a duet with one of Greece's film icons, Rena Vlachopoulou.
1994 - Alexia performed in the musical 'Frank and Steine' in Cyprus whose soundtrack became Alexia's seventh album, "Keklismenon ton thiron". One of the most famous composers in Greece, George Hadjinassios wrote the music.
1995 - Alexia participated in the concert of Mikis Theodorakis (one of the most famous Greek composers ever) for his 70th birthday in the Panathenaic Stadium. She opens the concert with the theme song from the awarded film "Phaedra", directed by Jules Dassin.
1996 - She released the album: "Alexia in a Jazz Mood". It makes history as it sells more copies than any other jazz album in Greece. In this album, she worked with Chick Corea, John Patitucci, Gary Novak, Gayle Moran, and Bulgarian pianist, composer and arranger, Antoni Donchev. The album was recorded in Los Angeles (Chick Corea's Mad Hatter Studio), Bulgaria and Athens.
1997 - Alexia presented her album "Famagusta" in the ancient Greek theatre of Herodus Atticus. "Famagusta" is an ode to the Cypriot town which is under Turkish Occupation since 1974. (Poetry by Claire Angelides and music by Cypriot composer Marios Meletiou).
1999 - Alexia sang for the original music for choreographer Constantinos Rigos' contemporary dance "The lady of the Camellias". The music composed by Aristides Mytaras. Also, she sang the theme song of the film "The road to Ithaca" (directed by Costas Dimitriou), composed by Kostas Kakoyiannis and for the music of the film "Safe sex" directed/written by Reppas - Papathanasiou.
[edit] New Music
2001-2005: She has been working on her new album Re-bE, where Alexia walks down new paths towards directions set out by her previous projects. Rhythmics with a post jazz sensation, a genuine experimental mood rendered with wisdom and experience, collaborations with contemporary and precisionist musicians. It will be released by track7very soon. * track7music - music company
2007: Alexia writes the lyrics and sings all the songs in Peter Massink's new release, "Birds Have to Fly". This album will be released by track7, also. * track7music - music company
[edit] Discography
- 1981: "Monica" (Maxi-Single)
- 1984: I am siam - She went pop
- 1987: "Aspro mavro" (Maxi-Single)
- 1987: Alexia
- 1988: Party On the Rocks
- 1989: Ena dyo tria
- 1989: "Lefka Christougenna" (Maxi-Single)
- 1990: Ela mia nychta
- 1991: "Ela - Love me" (Maxi-Single)
- 1992: Nerompogies
- 1993: I Alexia erminevi ta klasika
- 1994: Keklismenon ton thiron
- 1996: "Acheon akti"(CD-Single)
- 1996: Alexia in a jazz mood
- 1997: Famagusta
- 1998: Alexia - Mikis Theodorakis
- 1999: Safe sex (O.S.T.)
- 1999: I Kyria me tis kamelies
- 2000: The road to Ithaca (O.S.T.)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Alexia Videos
- Alexia Fan Page
- Alexia Fan Club
- Alexia MySpace page
- Alexia MySpace fan club
- Alexia - Mikis Theodorakis MySpace
- Alexia English fan page
- Alexia photo album –
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